Stress reducing tool mount

ABSTRACT

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed is a plastic tool mount and system with a tool connector head with a back side, nose and distal end of said nose; a shaft guide having a channel is formed within said head open at the distal end of said nose; said channel further having a raised bump section of plastic extending from a wall of said shaft guide into the shaft guide channel; and, wherein the diameter of the shaft guide channel at the location of the raised bump is diminished.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/566,439 filed on Dec. 2, 2011 which isincorporated by reference herein, as if fully set forth in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure relates to a tool mount with reduced stress applied to aplastic mount.

2. General Background

Tools such as screwdrivers, drills and socket wrenches havetraditionally provided a mounting means to replace or swap out a shaftor a shaft with a tool on a remote end (i.e. a screwdriver or hexwrench).

Pressure fits, locking collars and moving ball bearings have all beenused to hold or latch a shaft to a handle or device.

When pressure or friction fitting a shaft into a plastic receivingguide, the insertion of the shaft produces pressure on the walls of theguide whereby the guide may become distressed, have reduced usable life,crack or otherwise fail. Insert molding or co-molding a metal shaft intoa plastic mount is expensive and reduce the variability of being able toselect tools to fit in a standardized mount.

SUMMARY

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosedis a tool mount and mounting system having a plastic tool connector headwith a nose and back side, a generally square shaft guide with fourorthogonal walls and an open distal end formed within said head, asquare shaft with a diameter less than said shaft guide, a raisedsection of plastic extending from a wall of said shaft guide into theshaft guide channel whereby a portion of the shaft guide channel isdiminished; a tool with a metal shaft having a free end and said shaftbeing of a diameter less than said shaft guide but greater than saiddiminished shaft guide channel; and, upon insertion of said free endinto the shaft guide channel said raised section is distorted, having nocatch or well to retain it, forming a spread-out area of plastic fittedagainst said shaft.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosedis a tool mount and system having a plastic tool connector head with aback side, nose and distal end of said nose; a shaft guide formed withinsaid head open at the distal end of said nose, a shaft with a diameterless than said shaft guide; and, a raised section of plastic extendingfrom a wall of said shaft guide into the shaft guide channel; and,wherein the diameter of the shaft guide channel at the location of theraised bump is diminished.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosedis a tool mounting system with a plastic tool connector head with a backside and a nose; a generally square shaft guide with four orthogonalwalls formed within said head and opening at the distal end of the nose;a square shaft with a diameter less than said shaft guide; a firstraised section of plastic extending from a first wall of said shaftguide into the shaft guide channel whereby a portion of the shaft guidechannel is diminished; a second raised section of plastic extending froma second wall of said shaft guide into the shaft guide channel whereby aportion of the shaft guide channel is diminished; a tool with a metalshaft having a free end and said shaft being of a diameter less thansaid shaft guide but greater than said diminished shaft guide channel,and, upon insertion of said free end into the shaft guide channel saidraised sections are distorted, having no catch or well to retain them,forming a spread-out area of plastic fitted against said shaft.

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become moreapparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a front view and front perspective view of someaspects of a shaft and mounting guide in a portion of a device;

FIG. 2A shows a cut away side component view of a shaft and device withmounting guide;

FIG. 2B shows an enlarged view of a portion of the shaft of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C shows an enlarged view of a portion of the guide of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A shows a cut away side component view of a shaft and device withmounting guide;

FIG. 3B shows an enlarged view of a portion of the shaft of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C shows an enlarged view of a portion of the shaft of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D shows an enlarged view of a portion of the guide of FIG. 3A;and,

FIG. 3E shows an enlarged view of a portion of the guide of FIG. 3A.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe present disclosure that are regarded as novel, it is believed thatthe present disclosure's teachings will be better understood from aconsideration of the following description in conjunction with theappendices, figures, in which like reference numerals are carriedforward. All descriptions and callouts in the Figures are herebyincorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION

According to one or more exemplary implementations, as shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, a shaft and mount 100 are disclosed. Tool connector head 101mates with tool 102. Tool connector 101 is a roughly conical elementwith a back side 105, an annular base 110, with a nose 120 extendedtherefore.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the back side maybe affixed to a more complex structure. For example, as taught in U.S.Pat. No. 7,938,046 owned by the common assignee to the presentapplication, the backside may support a bearing surface with gear teethto be incorporated into a torque limiting device. The backside may alsohave a guide channel that communicates through the tool connector. Inother instances, the back side 105 may be extended to from a handle.

Nose 120 has a front wall 122 from which an alignment feature 125extends. The alignment extension may also be formed as a wall, or be apad stamped color, or sticker or other visual indicator. The alignmentfeature may be a tactile or visual cue which provides information onorientation of the tool connector. Such orientation information used inconcert with a shaft guide 128 having one or more mounting featuresalong one or more of the four orthagonal walls (A, B, C and D) whichcomprise the sides of the shaft guide 128 thereby allowing a user toidentify a position to orient the shaft guide relative to a shaft 130.Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a greater orfewer number of walls may be utilized, forming triangular openings, orpolygonal openings in the distal end 127 of the nose, at the firstopening 129 of the shaft guide 128.

Shaft 130 of tool 102 mates into shaft guide 128. The shaft ispreferably constructed of a material with greater hardness than thenose. In some instances, metal is preferred. In other instances, wherethe number of use cycles does not require metal, plastic, resin orcomposite materials may be sufficient. The tool 102 has an elongatedmember 140 which may terminate into a preselected end 145, such as a tipof a screwdriver, a cutting blade, or a mount junction to attach othertools. An annular lip 141 is formed at the junction of the elongatedmember and the shaft, whereby entry of the shaft 130 into the shaftguide 128, via the square opening 129 of the shaft guide 128, islimited.

FIG. 2A through 2C show further mounting details of a tool connectorhead 101 and tool 102 mated with one another. A bump or raised section250 is formed on one of the four orthogonal walls of the shaft guide128, the shaft guide 128 forming a shaft guide channel. The channelhaving a first opening 129 at the nose's distal front end 127 and asecond opening 129 communicating through said back side 105.

The raised section is of a preselected height, width and length. It maybe as wide as spanning between to opposing walls or merely be a localraised section on a wall not touching other walls. The raised sectionproduces a section of diminished diameter for the section of the shaftguide channel opposite the raised section.

Shaft 130 provides a well 255 into which said raised section 250 fits.The diameter D^(s) of the shaft 130 is preselected to be less than thediameter D^(sg) of the shaft guide 128. The size and shape of well 255is of a size and shape to accommodate said raised section 250. Uponinserting said shaft into said shaft guide, the free end 131 of theshaft 130 will encounter the raised section 250 within the shaft guide.The metal shaft free end 131 must be pushed over the raised section 250to be fitted into the shaft guide. The raised section 250 is preferablymolded of the same material as the nose. It is preferable that the noseand raised section 250 are molded of a material which is softer thansaid shaft. Accordingly, when the end of the shaft encounters the raisedsection, it deforms the raised bump to accommodate the shaft. Such shaftis constructed of a material with sufficient hardness to deform theraised bump or a portion thereof. Preferably, the raised section isconstructed of a material that has adequate memory to provide that asubstantial portion of said material (“the remainder”) will return to araised orientation after deformation by said shaft, forming a latch, andsaid latch will be retained within a catch formed by said well 255.

The raised bumps have a first and a second wall and a top. In someinstance at least one of the walls connection or edge at or with the topis a radiused corner, in other instances both wall connections to thetop are radiused.

To reduces stress on the entire nose 120 and shaft guide 128, shaft 130is freely movable within said shaft guide 128, but for the raisedsection. Therefore, the shaft exerts force at raised section 250 and thearea of the shaft guide and nose 252 above the raised section 250.

Once the shaft 130 is fully inserted in the nose the annular lip 141 ofthe elongated member should reach the front wall 122 and the raisedsection 250 should be aligned with a the well 255 which acts as a catchfor said raised section 250 which acts as a latch. In those instances,when the passage of the shaft 130 over the raised section 250 degradesor removes a portion of the raised section 250, sufficient residualraised section 250 material should be left to hold the shaft in placefor a limited use disposable tool.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that in someinstances, a shaft may not have a well therein to catch said raised bumplatch. In those instances, the metal shaft via the shaft and free endpush against said raised section and stress the plastic bump to deform,reshape and relocated at least some of said raised bump material,wherein the increase in material within the shaft guide channel issufficient to reduce the diameter of a portion of the shaft guidechannel whereby pressure or friction fitting the shaft is provided.Because only a portion of the shaft guide channel has decreaseddiameter, less stress is placed on the shaft guide channel as a whole.

A limited use shaft guide is preferable to sufficiently secure a shaftfor at least about 50 uses; more preferably it will secure the shaft forat least about 100 uses, and most preferably it will secure a shaft forat least about 200 uses. A “use” as used herein refers to theapplication from a start to stop of rotational force on the shaft. Saidforce may be 360 degrees or any part thereof. A use also includesreversing of direction. Specifically, a one degree or more turnclockwise, and a one or more degree reverse turn counterclockwise wouldconstitute two uses.

FIG. 3A through 2D show some aspects of mounting details of a toolconnector head 301 and tool 302 mating with one another. In thisexemplary implementation, two latch-catch pairs are shown. Thedisclosure of two latch-catch pairs at 180 degree separation is not alimitation. In some instances, only one of the latch-catchconfigurations may be used. In other instances, said latch-catch pairsmay be placed at a 90 degree orientation to one another.

A bump or raised section 360 is formed on one of the four walls of ashaft guide 128. The raised section is of a pre selected height, widthand length. As detailed in FIG. 3D, the raised section may have anangled first side wall 361 wherein angle α is obtuse (greater than 90degrees) and a second side wall 362 which is at generally 90 degrees.Further, the top 363 of the raised section may be angled relative to theshaft guide 128, wherein the height “H1” at the intersection of a firstside wall 361 to the top 363, and the height “H2” at the intersection ofa second side wall 362 to the top 363, are dissimilar.

A bump or raised section 370 is formed on one of the four walls of ashaft guide 128. The raised section is of a pre selected height, widthand length. As detailed in FIG. 3C, the raised section may have anangled first side wall 371 wherein angle β is obtuse (greater than 90degrees) and a second side wall 372 which is at generally 90 degrees.Further, the top 373 of the raised section may be flat and generallyparallel relative to the shaft guide 128.

While the method and apparatus have been described in terms of what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferredimplementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not belimited to the disclosed implementations. It is intended to covervarious modifications and similar arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accordedthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and allimplementations of the following claims.

It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be madewithout departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes arealso implicitly included in the description. They still fall within thescope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosureis intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of thedisclosure both independently and as an overall system and in bothmethod and apparatus modes.

Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims mayalso be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should beunderstood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of animplementation of any apparatus implementation, a method or processimplementation, or even merely a variation of any element of these.

Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates toelements of the disclosure, the words for each element may be expressedby equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the functionor result is the same.

Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should beconsidered to be encompassed in the description of each element oraction. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit theimplicitly broad coverage to which this disclosure is entitled.

It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means fortaking that action or as an element which causes that action.

Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood toencompass a disclosure of the action which that physical elementfacilitates.

Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in thisapplication for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. Inaddition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless itsutilization in this application is inconsistent with suchinterpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood asincorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, andsynonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technicaldictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster'sUnabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated byreference.

Finally, all referenced listed in the Information Disclosure Statementor other information statement filed with the application are herebyappended and hereby incorporated by reference; however, as to each ofthe above, to the extent that such information or statementsincorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with thepatenting of this/these disclosure(s), such statements are expressly notto be considered as made by the applicant(s).

In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and soas to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant haspresented claims with initial dependencies only.

Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under newmatter laws—including but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the variousdependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim orconcept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim orconcept.

To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extentthat the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literallyencompass any particular implementation, and to the extent otherwiseapplicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any wayintended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicantsimply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; oneskilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted aclaim that would have literally encompassed such alternativeimplementations.

Further, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used tomaintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claiminterpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it shouldbe understood that the term “compromise” or variations such as“comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of astated element or step or group of elements or steps but not theexclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps.

Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as toafford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.

1. A tool mounting comprising: a plastic tool connector head; a shaftguide formed within said head with at least an open end; a shaft with adiameter less than said shaft guide; and, a raised section of plasticextending from a wall of said shaft guide into the shaft guide channel;and, wherein the diameter of the shaft guide channel at the location ofthe raised bump is diminished.
 2. A tool mounting system comprising: aplastic tool connector head with a nose and back side; a generallysquare shaft guide with four orthogonal walls and an open distal endformed within said head; a square shaft with a diameter less than saidshaft guide; a raised section of plastic extending from a wall of saidshaft guide into the shaft guide channel whereby a portion of the shaftguide channel is diminished; a tool with a metal shaft having a free endand said shaft being of a diameter less than said shaft guide butgreater than said diminished shaft guide channel; and, upon insertion ofsaid free end into the shaft guide channel said raised section isdistorted, having no catch or well to retain it, forming a spread outarea of plastic fitted against said shaft.
 3. The tool mounting systemof claim 2, further comprising a well in said shaft that catches andretains the remainder of said raised bump.
 4. The tool mounting systemof claim 3, wherein the raised section has a first and a secondsubstantially flat side wall and a substantially flat top.
 5. The toolmounting system of claim 4, wherein said first and second side walls ofthe raised section are generally perpendicular to the wall of the shaftguide they extend from.
 6. The tool mounting system of claim 5, whereinsaid first wall is shorter than said second wall thereby causing saidtop to be angled.
 7. The tool mounting system of claim 4, wherein atleast one of said first and second side walls is at an obtuse angle tosaid shaft guide channel wall.
 8. The tool mounting system of claim 6,wherein at least one of said first and second side walls is at an obtuseangle to said shaft guide channel wall.
 9. The tool mounting system ofclaim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second side walls has aradiused edge wherein it meet said top.
 10. The tool mounting system ofclaim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second side walls has aradiused edge wherein it meet said top.
 11. The tool mounting system ofclaim 3 further comprising a visual queue formed on the distal end ofsaid nose indicating an orientation for alignment of a shaft with saidshaft guide channel.
 12. The tool mounting system of claim 2, whereinthe shaft is harder than the raised section of plastic.
 13. The toolmounting system of claim 12, wherein the shaft is metal.
 14. A toolmounting system comprising: a plastic tool connector head with a backside and a nose; a generally square shaft guide with four orthogonalwalls formed within said head and opening at the distal end of the nose;a square shaft with a diameter less than said shaft guide; a firstraised section of plastic extending from a first wall of said shaftguide into the shaft guide channel whereby a portion of the shaft guidechannel is diminished; a second raised section of plastic extending froma second wall of said shaft guide into the shaft guide channel whereby aportion of the shaft guide channel is diminished; a tool with a metalshaft having a free end and said shaft being of a diameter less thansaid shaft guide but greater than said diminished shaft guide channel;and, upon insertion of said free end into the shaft guide channel saidraised sections are distorted, having no catch or well to retain them,forming a spread out area of plastic fitted against said shaft.
 15. Thetool mounting system of claim 14, further comprising a first well insaid shaft that catches and retains the remainder of said first raisedsection.
 16. The tool mounting system of claim 14, further comprising: afirst well in said shaft that catches and retains the remainder of saidfirst raised section; and, a second well in said shaft that catches andretains the remainder of said second raised section.